Support for wire fences



(No Model.)

M. NEIL. SUPPORT FOR WIRE FENCES.

Patented June 16,1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL NEIL, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

SUPPORT FOR WIRE FENCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,088, dated June 16, 1896.

Application filed September 20,1895. Serial No. 563,080. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL NEIL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Supports for WVire and Livelledge Fences, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in supports for wire fences of the class known as live-hedge fences; and in such connection it relates more particularly to the construction and arrangement of such supports therefor.

The principal objects of my invention are, first, to provide a support or stay for wire fences which shall be simple, durable, and efficient; second, to provide a support or stay of wood, metal, or other suitable material the edge of which is notched or recessed to receive and support the wires of the fence confined in said notches or recesses by suitable means to permit the wires of the fence to move longitudinally in said notches or recesses under the influence of heat or cold, and, third, to provide a support or stay of wood, metal, or other material notched or recessed in one face to receive and support wires held therein by means of an overlapping wire, rod, or retaining-piece suitably secured to the support or stay.

My invention, stated in general terms, consists in a support or stay for a'wire fence constructed and arranged in substantially the mannerv hereinafter described and claimed.

The nature and scope of my invention will be more fully understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a live-hedge wire fence embodying features of my invention and illustrating to the left of said figure three supports or stays constructed and arranged according to one form of my invention and to the right of said figure three supports or stays constructed and arranged according to a modified form of my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively front and side elevational views, enlarged, of the support or stay illustrated to the left in Fig. 1; and Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively front and side elevational views, enlarged, of the modified form of support or stay illustrated to the right in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, A A represent the main fence-posts, and B B the series of longitudinal wires stretched between the posts A A and suitably secured thereto. Between the posts A A are arranged a series of intermediate supports or stays D and D.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and;3, the support or stay D consists of a strip of wood, metal, or other material, provided at one edge or surface with a series of parallel notches or recesses cl. These notches or recesses d extend at right angles to the wires B B and are slightly wider than the diameter of the same. The notches or recesses (Z are cut to receive and support the wires B B, which are run therethrough.

To retain the wires B B, I prefer to use a double wire 6, which, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is secured at the upper and lower ends of the support or stay over the top and under the lowest horizontal wires B B. Each strand of the wire (2 extends or overlaps these wires B B on one side of the stay, so as to prevent the same from slipping out of the notches or recesses d. The lower ends of the wire 6 pass around the support or stay and are twisted together, while the upper portion of the wire 6 passes around or through the upper end of the support or stay. To more securely bind the wire (2 to the support or stay, a binder or clamp f is inserted through one of the notches or recesses cl, around the strands of wire 6, and twisted or secured at the back of the support or stay D, all as clearly illus trated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Referring now to Figs. at and 5, the wires 13 B are held in notches cl of the supports or stays D by means of a retaining rod or bar 6, which extends over the notches or recesses d to close the ends thereof after the wires 13 have been inserted therein. It is preferred to secure the retaining rod or bar 6 to the support or stay D by means of two clamps or wires f, one at the top and the other at the bottom of the support or stay. These clamps or wires f are bound around both support and retaining-bar and twisted or locked, preferably at the back of the same.

The fence support or stay above described is especially advantageous in that it supports the horizontal wires of the fence against displacement laterally and yet permits of the necessary longitudinal movement of the wires resulting from the contraction or expansion under heat or cold. Again, in connection with live-hedge fences, to which this support is particularly applicable, it is especially valuable, in that the fence may be entirely or partially removed without loss of material and the fence cheaply and readily constructed, so that when plants are full grown they may be readily and quickly plashed to the wires B B thereof.

The wires of the fence are firmly held in position by my improved support or stay and its retaining wire or rod at any distance apart without buckling or separating. The retaining wire or red firmly locks the support or stay to the horizontal wires in such position that the support or stay is always at right angles to the wires B B and do not fall to the right or left, as is the case in other constructions of stays or supports. The fence sup ported in my improved stay is, therefore, always sightly and effective.

It is obvious that my invention maybe applied to different types of wire fences and not be limited to a live-hedge fence.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A fence support or stay having one edge notched or recessed to receive and support the fence-wires, and a double retaining-wire secured to the upper and lower ends of the support or stay, each strand of said retainingwire overlapping the fence-wires on one side of the notched edge of the support or stay, substantially as described.

2. A fence support or stay having one edge notched or recessed to receive and support the fence-wires, a double retaining-wire having its ends twisted around the support or stay and the middle portion passed through the support or stay, each strand of said retaining wire overlapping the fence-wires on one side of the support or stay, and an auxiliary clamp passed around the strands of the retainingwire and around the support or stay to secure the retaining-wire to the support or stay, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MICHAEL NEIL.

Vitnesses D. I. PRUGH, \V. A. MILLER. 

